Terminal-post seal



, A. WALTER TERMINAL PosT SEAL Filed Sept. l5. 1921 Patented Ang., 2, i924.

unirse srerss ilyi PATENT OFFICE.

ANTON WALTER, OF INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR TO THE PREST-OLZLITE COMPANY, INC., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

TERMINAL-POST SEAL.

Application led September 15, 1921.

To all whom it maw concern.'

Be it known that l, ANTON WALTER, a citizen of the United States, residing at 1827 Koehne St., ndianapolis, in the county of 5 Marion and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Terminal-Post Seals, of which the following is a speciication.

This invention relates t0 an improved terminal post seal for storage batteries.

Heretofore, in some types of storage batteries' the space above the joint between the post and the openin in the cell cover has been iilled with sea ing compound which, when Irst applied7 adheres strongly to the post and prevents the escape of the electrolyte. During the operation of the battery, the bond between the sealing com ound and the post gradually loosens and tlie electrolyte inally creeps out between the compound, the post and the cover. rlihe object or this invention is, accordingly, to provide simple and efi'ective means for securing and sealing a terminal post in a battery cell cover that will indefinitely maintain liquid tight joints between the sealing means, the terminal post, and the cover.

Broadly speaking, the improved securing and sealing means consists solely of a ring 3U or bushing, the post-receiving passage of which is similar in cross section vto that of the part of the post to which it is applied, but is of slightly smaller size so that by forcing 'the ring onto'the post it will closely and tightly si rround and grip the same and against the cover t0 hold the ternost in place and also seal the joints e cover and the terminal post. c ring or bushing is desirably 1ubber which is non-corrediyieldable when cold, and i atei.' when warmed, by the post-,receiving passage oiE the expand to the size desired and rer substantially constant tension e post during all changes in temand o e1y dit' teiten in conwhich ving means Serial No. 500,788.

applied to the terminal posts and cover thereof.

In the drawings which illustrate one embodiment ofthe invention, the usual cell jar 10 contains the electrolyte and the usual posltlve and negative plates 13 which have connector straps 14 united to positive and negative lead terminal posts 15 projecting through openings 16 in a hard-rubber cell cover C. rlhe terminal posts may be provided with collars 151 adapted to bear agalnst the inner side of the cover, either with or without a gasket interposed between such collar and the cover.

The terminal posts are both secured in their respective openings in the cover in the same manner, therefore a description of one securing and sealing means will be sulicient.

As illustrated, the sole means for securingl and sealing the post 15 in its opening' 16 consists of a ring or bushing R of hard rubber or similar material that is non-,corrodible and normally comparatively rigid but is slightly yieldable when cold and somewhat more so when warmed. Initially or before being applied to the terminal post the ring R has a central postreceiving passage R that is or a cross-section similar to butl slightly smaller than the part of the post t0 which the ring is finally applied. The passage R is desirablv smooth inside and the ring may be applied to the post in a` suitable press adapted to force the ring axially downwardly along the postuntil it bears against the upper side of the cover adjacent the hole 16 and draws the flange 151 against the lower side of the cover. lf desired, a gas? het may be interposed between the cover and the lower side of the ring. By forcing the ring onto the post the hole lst is slightly expanded and stresses are set up in the hard rubber which, because oi? the inherent resiliency oit the material, will maintain a high degree of adhesion between the ring and post during variations in temperature and operating conditions toprevent leakage of' electrolyte between the post and ring and lbetween the ring and cover. ln order to Jacilitate the assembling of the bushing or "rgl on the post, the bushing may be prot .ed with a charnier e at the lower end of the passage R thereoi2 so that such passage the adjoining part the bushing msg? be gradually expanded. After the bushing ias been applied to the post a suitfrom the present invention.

able connector may -be attached to or lead burned onto the upper end 152 thereof.

The cell cover C may be molded or other` wise formed of hard rubber or similar material, and is provided with tapering depressions D in its upper surface which, as previously stated, were formerly filled with sealing composition to seal the joints between the posts and the cover. In the improved construction herein shown, thev holes 16 are formed at the bottoms of these depressions, leaving flanges 18 against which the securing and sealing rings R may bear.

-The ring R is relatively thick and Wide to prevent breakage and substantiallyA fills the annular space between the post and the wall D of the depression, the'outer side R being incined to correspond with the inclined surface of the wall D. The opposed surfaces of the rings and the walls `fof the depressions may be coated with acidresistant paint and the surfaces may be roughened to further increase the tightness of the joints.

The cross-sectional shape of the terminal posts may be circular. as shown, or other than circular if desired, Without departing The cross-sectional shape of the depressions and the seal- 'ing rings or bushings will, of course, be made of a corresponding shape. In the improved seal, the hard rubber sealing rings or bushings, which are force-fitted on the terminal posts, serve as the sole means for securing and sealing the posts in place in the cover and prevent the escape of the electrolyte at the joints between the post and cover.

I claim:

1. The combination with a storage battery cover having an opening therethrough, of

a terminal post projecting through said opening and a hard rubber bushing securing said post in said opening and having a post-receiving passage initially of a crosssectional size smaller than any part of said post to which it is finally applied, said bushing being force-fitted on said post thereby enlarging Said passage and stressing the walls thereof so as to cause said post to be firmly gripped and held in 'place by said bushing.

2. The method of securing a terminal post in an opening in a storage battery cover through which it projects that comprises forcing onto said post a hard rubber bushing that has a post-receiving passage initially of a cross-sectional size smaller than the part of said post which it finally engages, whereby said bushing is force-fitted on said post and said passage is enlarged, stressing the walls thereof so that said post is firmly gripped and held in place by said bushing.

3. The method of securing a terminal post in an opening in a storage battery through which it projects that comprises forcing onto said post a heated hard rubber bushing that has a post-receiving passage initially of a cross-sectional size smaller than the part of said post which it finally grips, whereby said bushing is force-fitted on said post and said passage is enlarged, stressing the inherently resilient walls thereofso that said post is tightly gripped and held in place soley by said bushing.

4. The combination with a storage battery cover having a depression and an opening through said cover at the bottom of sa'id depression, of a terminal post projecting comprising a ring-like hard rubber bush- 4 ing force-fitted on said post and bearing against the bottom of said depression.

In testimony whereof, I aflix my signature.

ANTON WALTER. 

